Adding that it was "one of the hardest decisions I've ever made," the actor -- who joined the show's ensemble in 2005-- said he sought advice from Kristen Wiig, who is also departing after seven years.

"She kept saying it just feels like it's her time," he shared. "I connect with that. Something about it just feels like it's the moment. My contract's up and I did so much more than I ever thought I would ever even do."

Us Weekly first broke the news in April that Wiig and Samberg were leaving the sketch comedy show; in an interview on Alec Baldwin's radio show later that month, Wiig, 38, hinted the chatter about her departure was true.

"When I do leave, it's not because I'm sick of it and not because I see something better or anything like that," the Bridesmaid star explained. "It's just that it's time. When I do leave it will be the hardest thing . . . This is my seventh year and that's my family. It's my heart. It's New York to me."